Isle of Wight Nostalgia Site: Island History Isle of Wight Nostalgia - History Beakers, Romans, Saxons & Danes Around 1900 BC the Beaker people arrived - so called from their distinctive pottery. They called the Island Wiht (weight) meaning raised or what rises over the sea. Then the Romans arrived in 43 AD and translated Wiht into the name Vectis from the Latin veho meaning lifting. The Roman rule started under Vespasian and continued peacefully for over four hundred years. Then followed a period of strife starting with the Saxons under Cerdic and Cynric in 530 AD. Many of the natives were slaughtered and four years after Cerdic's death the government was divided between his two nephews Stuf and Wihtgar. In 544 Wihtgar died and was buried at Carisbrooke. In 661 AD, Wight changed hands again when it was taken by Wulfhure, King of the Mercians, but it was in 686 AD that the West Saxon King, Caedwalla, conquered it and brought Christianity to the Island.

For two centuries the people of Wight then led a fairly peaceful life until the Danes arrived this far south. In 897 AD their visits for 'burning and killing' went on for over 100 years so the Islanders lived in constant fear. The Middle Ages At the time of the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror granted overlordship of the Isle of Wight to his relative William FitzOsbern who began the construction of a castle at Carisbrooke. The lordship of the Island passed to the De Redvers family in 1101, with the hereditary rights and privileges that accompanied it, until the Countess Isabella De Fortibus, the last survivor in the family, sold the Island to Edward 1 in 1293 for six thousand marks. The acquisition of full control of the Island by the crown was important because the Island's vulnerability to invasion. The lordship of the Island was now a royal appointment. One of the lords of the Island - Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick - was actually given a title of King to the Isle of Wight in 1444 by Henry V1, who attended the ceremony and placed the crown on his head.

During the Hundred Years' War, the Island, like much of the south coast, became a target for marauding French. The Island's only fortification, the Norman Castle at Carisbrooke, assumed a defence role for which it was unsuited owing to its central position; The French could land on the coast and burn and plunder while ignoring the castle. Towns and villages like Yarmouth, Newtown and Newport were sometimes attacked and burned. It is said that in 1377 a party of French fell into an ambush on the outskirts of Newport and were cut to pieces in Dead Man's Lane, now Trafalgar Road. They are supposed to be buried at 'Noddies Hill', now known as Nodehill or Upper St. James' Street. On the same occasion the French besieged the castle, but, according to the legend, retired on the death of their commander, shot from the castle's west wall. Concern about the French attacks is shown in the frequent modifications made to the Castle's defences in the 14th Century. Tudor & Stuart Period The strategic importance of the Island increased with the development of Portsmouth as a permanent naval base.

Henry VIII accordingly built additional fortifications on the island at Yarmouth, East & West Cowes and Sandown, sometimes re-using stone from dissolved monasteries as building material. Sir Richard Worsley, Captain of the Island at this time, successfully commanded the resistance to the last of the French attacks in 1545, at the time of the loss of the Mary Rose. During the reign of Elizabeth 1, the Island was again threatened by invasion, this time from Spain. Sir George Carey, cousin of the Queen and Captain of the Island, took up residence at Carisbrooke Castle in 1583 and undertook repairs to the defences. Although the Armada was defeated in 1588, the Spanish threat remained, and the outer fortifications of Carisbrooke Castle were built between 1597 and 1602 in response to the invasion scare. At the outset of the Civil War in 1642, the Parliament assumed control of the Island and retained their control throughout the conflict. In spite of this, King Charles 1 went to the Island on escaping from imprisonment at Hampton Court in November 1647.

As a prisoner at Carisbrooke Castle, the King made several unsuccessful attempts to escape before being transferred to Newport in September 1648, where abortive negotiations with Parliament (known as the Treaty of Newport) took place. In November, the King was seized by the Army and taken to Hurst Castle and then to his trial and execution in London. Recent History In the nineteenth century the Island was transformed by the coming of the railways. Queen Victoria took advantage of the island's new accessibility by using Osborne as her retreat. Affairs of the state soon followed her and the modestly furnished family home had to be enhanced with apartments where she could receive foreign heads of state. However, her children enjoyed many hours and a great deal of freedom at Osborne as a visit to Swiss Cottage will indicate. Queen Victoria's affection for Osborne added to the Island's attractions of climate and scenery, and Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin & Ventnor expanded from fishing villages to fashionable resorts. Queen Victoria's youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice, succeeded her husband, Prince Henry of Battenburg as Governor of the Island in 1896, and regularly used Carisbrooke Castle as her summer residence.

After her death in 1944 the office was left vacant until, at the request of the Island, a new Governor was appointed in 1957 - the seventh Duke of Wellington. He was succeeded in 1965 by Admiral of the Fleet, the Earl Mountbatten of Burma, a great nephew of Princess Beatrice. When the Island gained full County status under the Local Government Act in 1972, Earl Mountbatten was appointed the Island's first Lord Lieutenant as well. Since his death in Ireland in 1979, the Island has been without a governor. Roman Vectis | My Isle of Wight Brading , culture , family , FF , Heritage , history , kids , Newport , Spotlight on.. Attractions The Romans arrived on the Island about 2000 years ago and just like our many visitors today they decided it would be a very nice place to stay. Indeed they were so impressed that one of the best villas in the country was built here and at least seven more residences across the Island. Most of these were built on the southern slopes of the central chalk downland where soils were light and easily ploughed for the growing of wheat and barley.

Only two of these are open to the public: the large villa in Brading and a smaller villa in Newport , which boasts a large bath suite and hypocaust. Other remains have been found on private premises, and one is beneath the Solent, near Gurnard. A villa was also uncovered at Robin Hill but it has subsequently been recovered to keep it intact, although you can see its footprint when you visit. Vespasian the future emperor subdued the Island of Vectis, as the Romans called it, according to the Roman historian Suetonius. The conquest seems to have been a peaceful surrender to the inevitable by the local chiefs and during the occupation the Island remained a rural backwater, as there were no Roman towns or Roman roads. It is now thought that it was the local native landowners, after adopting Roman culture, who built the villas – farmhouses in Roman style – although they were built using Roman methods. These villas were the centres of prosperous farm estates, which probably sold surplus grain and wool in mainland markets. Brading Roman Villa At the time the Romans arrived, in around 43AD, water filled the Eastern Yar river valley all the way to Brading where there was a natural port.

So it was here that a rather sumptuous villa and farm complex was built in around 293AD that nestled beneath the downs. It is particularly noted for its fine mosaics. Medusa’s head is the centrepiece of the floor in the ‘audience room’ of Brading Roman Villa where visiting guests would be ushered and she’s thought to be one of the finest examples of mosaic work in the world. Surrounding her are other mosaics representing the winds, the seasons, love, life, death and fertility with Medusa in the centre as protection for the house. Many of the floors have beautifully preserved mosaic pictures. The first mosaic to be uncovered here was that of the cock-headed man, dressed as a gladiator trainer (Lanista) with two mythical griffins. In 1880 the landowner, Mr. William Munns and a retired army captain, John Thorp, discovered it by the light of a lantern. John Thorp had previously been shown fragments of pottery by local schoolchildren and had used them to find the location of the villa. A public appeal raised £350 to excavate the villa and a building was erected over the site to keep it dry.

By the end of the 20th century the existing visitor centre was ailing and was replaced in 2005 by a stunning £3.1m award winning timber framed building. Raised walkways guide visitors around the villa and there are lots of interactive opportunities for children and adults, with aids for those who have impaired eyesight and hearing. Although it was dismissed as a barn when the Victorians excavated the site in the 1880s there is a much larger structure that was excavated recently and is thought to date from around 150 years earlier, but this has been covered until sufficient funds become available to explore it further. This summer Brading Roman Villa will be offering families the opportunity to not only see a late 3rd century Roman Villa with six beautiful mosaics but to dress up in the style of the Romans. In a marquee there will be the opportunity for anyone of any age or ability to make a mosaic coaster using colourful 2cm glass tiles (£2.50), to colour in mosaic pictures (no charge) and for the more adventurous the opportunity to make a larger family mosaic.

All this will happen regardless of the weather but if it is fine the natural grounds offer the chance to go on a insect hunt with a net and identification chart, to play in a safe area and eat your lunch on picnic blankets (no charge). Newport Roman Villa The villa in Newport was found in 1926 when workmen, who were digging foundations, uncovered Roman tiles. These were part of the floor in one room of bath complex at the villa, which is believed to have been built in the late 270s AD. By the summer of 1927 the complete plan of the villa house had been uncovered and it was decided that the site should be permanently preserved beneath a cover building. One room has been reconstructed and furnished as the villa kitchen, with appropriate foods, furniture and kitchen equipment. Another room with checkered mosaic floor has had one wall reconstructed and painted in Roman interior decorating style, based on evidence from Brading, Newport and Carisbrooke villas (the latter is in a private garden). But it perhaps the bath house suite that is the most striking feature of this villa, with three rooms that reveal the underfloor system of hypocaust.

Mosaic floors also feature here although they are not of the high quality found in Brading. Newport Roman Villa has an Activities Room for families with various Roman-themed things to do and artifacts to see and some to handle. Iow History | Isle Of Wight Holidays Iow History History of the Isle of Wight- The Isle of Wight is full of historical and archaeological memories dating from prehistoric periods of fossil discoveries through to remains from the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman periods onwards. The island’s roots can be traced to the end of the last Ice age when post-glacial rebound caused the land level in southern Britain to drop. This along with some other factors, caused the sea to flood the valley of the former River Solent creating a channel between the land mass and mainland Britain. The date at which the West of the Solent became flooded is debateable, as once sea water broke through and created an island, the Solent channel would have been swept out by strong tides. However in all information the area has been referred to as an Island. Celtic, Roman and Saxon The Isle of Wight was known to the romans as vectis.

The Romans, under Vespasian (who was Emperor) took possession about A.D. 44 in the reign of the Emperor Claudius, and the Romanization of the district is attested by numerous finds, including six Roman villas these are open to the public at Brading, Newport and Carisbrooke. It is thought that the Island was occupied by the Jutes after Roman dominion ended. Following the demise of the Roman Empire it is also thought that The Isle of Wight, along with parts of Hampshire and some other areas close by was settled in the fifth century onwards by the Jutes, who were a Germanic tribe from Northern Europe. Medieval After the Norman Conquest the waters of the Island became even busier, with the growth of Southampton as a port, as well as smaller, local ports such as Newport, Newtown, Brading, Wootton and Yarmouth. The Island, too, was in the front line in the wars with France that were to last for the next 800 years.

The Lordship thereafter became a Royal appointment with a brief interruption when Henry de Beauchamp, 1st Duke of Warwick, was crowned King of the Isle of Wight, King Henry VI assisting in person at the ceremony, placing the crown on his head. He died in 1445, aged 22. With no male heir, his regal title expired with him. The title of Lord of the Isle of Wight expired in the reign of Henry VII with the title of Governor or Captain being used for sometime thereafter. During the English Civil War King Charles fled to the Isle of Wight believing he would receive sympathy from the governor Robert Hammond. Hammond was appalled, and incarcerated the king in Carisbrooke Castle. Charles was later tried and executed in London. The first Governor to hold the crown representative title used now of Lord-Lieutenant was Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma until his murder in 1979. Lord Mottistone was the last Lord Lieutenant to also hold the title Governor (from 1992 to 1995). Since 1995 there has been no Governor appointed and Mr Christopher Bland has been the Lord Lieutenant.

Henry VIII who developed the Royal Navy and its permanent base at Portsmouth, fortifications at Yarmouth, East & West Cowes and Sandown, sometimes re-using stone from dissolved monasteries as building material. Sir Richard Worsley, Captain of the Island at this time, successfully commanded the resistance to the last of the French attacks in 1545. Much later on after the Spanish Armada in 1588 the threat of Spanish attacks remained, and the outer fortifications of Carisbrooke Castle were built between 1597 and 1602. see timeline for further dates. Early Modern and Modern From the fourteenth to the sixteenth century, the French made frequent descents upon the Island, but though on one occasion in 1377 they succeeded in burning Yarmouth, Newport and Newtown, they were more often repulsed with heavy loss by the doughty islanders. The most interesting event of later history is, the incarceration of Charles I in Carisbrooke Castle. A far different connection with royalty arose from the purchase in 1845 of the Osborne estate by Queen Victoria.

Here for many years she spent a portion of each summer, and here on January 22, 1901 she passed away. During the 14th Century and the Hundred Years War, the island and the castle were frequently attacked by the French. In 1377 the French landed in strength on the north coast and destroyed the towns of Yarmouth and Francheville and lay seige to Carisbrooke. Queen Victoria made the Isle of Wight her home for many years, and as a result it become a major holiday resort for members of European royalty, whose many houses could later claim descent from her through the widely flung marriages of her offspring. During her reign in 1897 the World's first radio station was set up by Marconi at the Needles battery at the western tip of the Island. The famous boatbuilding firm of J. Samuel White was established on the Island in 1802. Other noteworthy marine manufacturers followed over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries including Saunders-Roe a key manufacturer of the Flying-boats and the world's first hovercraft. The tradition of maritime industry continues on the Island today.

Isle of Wight Holidays © 2007 Isle Of Wight | Attractions Articles History You are at: Home »Isle of Wight Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight, once known as Vectis to the ancient Romans, is a large island located in the English Channel, just 6 kilometers south of Hampshire and is separated from the mainland by the Solent. It features several resorts which have been active ever since the Victorian era. It was originally a part of New Hampshire, until in 1890 where it separated and became an independent country. The Isle of Wight is also home to famous people, such as poets Algernon Charles Swinburne and Alfred Lord Tennyson. It is also the birthplace of Queen Victoria herself, who led the Victorian Era of Great Britain. In order to reach the island, one must take a hovercraft from the mainland to Southsea. From there, it’s only a ferry ride away to reach the island. The island offers a variety of activities for tourists such as cycling, rowing, sailing, trampolining, marathons, speedways for motorbike enthusiasts, ice hockey, regular hockey, football, cricket and motor scooting.

The island’s tourism industry is constantly at work. And for music-lovers, it is home to the Isle of Wight Festival and the Bestival. A college of music resides here, and it offers a national diploma in music. A number of famous musicians came and were born on this island. In 1970, the famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix held a concert at the festival, attracting up to 700,000 people, quickly overwhelming the people on the island, which can only hold up to 100,000. The island is also the home of the famous UK bands The Bees and Trixie’s Big Red Motorbike. Mark King of the band Level 42 is also from this island. Another asset that owes to the island’s bustling economy is its heritage. Its natural wildlife, historical landmarks, museums, geology, zoos and theme parks greatly help in attracting tourists each year. Some of these include the Amazon World Zoo, the Blackgang Chine amusement park, the Dinosaur Isle museum, the Fort Victoria Country Park and the Yarmouth Castle. The media also helped in gathering visitors to the island.

Television shows, literature and even comics gave viewers and readers a glimpse into the island’s beauty and the many activities it offers. Articles Featuring Isle of Wight From British Heritage Magazine [tabby title=’Featured Isle of Wight Article’] Hampshire and the Isle of Wight By BRITISH HERITAGE ON JULY 1, 2013 IT WOULDN’T BE QUITE FAIR to say that Hampshire is overlooked as a destination by American visitors, though for all its diversity, scenic beauty, historic treasures and proximity to London, the county seems to maintain a pretty low profile. That makes it all the more fun to explore. Here is a delightful and colorful introduction to historic Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with easy driving distances and a balanced mix of town and country. Day 1 On the Road to Saxon Wessex There are several routes southwest to the central coastal county of Hampshire. From the airports or central London, though, the most fun jumps off the M25 at Junction 10 for the A3 to Guildford. Our destination is Winchester, capital of Alfred the Great’s kingdom of the West Saxons.

Straight through, you could drive it in an hour, but getting there is half the fun. The first turn to the right on the A3 takes you to Wisley, the flagship gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society—magnificent in any season of the year. At Guildford, you might follow the signs for a short visit to England’s first 20th-century cathedral perched on a hilltop campus above the city. From Guildford, take the A31 toward Alton over the “Hog’s Back,” a narrow ridge offering great views over the Downs. At Farnham, do take a short detour to visit 12th-century Waverley Abbey, the first Cistercian monastery in England. Just stroll across the watermeadow and wander in the ruins. At Alton, you can take a ride on the MidHants Railway, enjoying a steam train excursion on the “Watercress Line.” The nearby village of Chawton was home to Jane Austen. Her house is a wonderful introduction to the novelist’s life and works. Jane’s mother and sister are buried in St. Nicholas churchyard. The historic cathedral city of Winchester lies just down the road.

Day 2 On the Razzle in Winchester A lot of folk breeze in and out of Winchester, but this delightful ancient small city on the River Itchen richly repays a day’s exploration. The Tourist Information Centre in the Guildhall at the base of the High Street is a great place to start. Just in back of the TIC is the close of Winchester Cathedral, with the longest medieval nave in Europe and 900 years of colorful history. Look for the grave of Jane Austen, where throughout 2013 a richly illustrated exhibition unpacks her life and work in Hampshire. The pedestrianized High Street, lined with great shops, eateries and pubs, leads uphill to the surviving Great Hall of Winchester Castle. No, that’s not really King Arthur’s Round Table hanging on the wall. Perhaps visit in the great military museums next door. Another great visit is the City Mill down on the river. Then, perhaps take a walk through the water meadows. Just follow the path along the River Itchen to St. Cross Hospital, where you can request the Wayfarer’s Dole (see p. 54).

You might do afternoon tea and little shopping on the High Street, or finish the afternoon with a return to the cathedral at 5:30 for choral evensong. An unforgettable experience. Check out the ruins of Wolvesey Castle near the heart of Winchester. Guildford Cathedral is characterized by its light nave. Day 3 To The New Forest Turning southwest this morning, take the A3090 about 10 miles to Romsey. Do pay a call at Romsey Abbey, its Saxon foundations dating to Alfred’s time. On the edge of town, Broadlands, home of the Mountbatten family, is a great visit in season. When the roses are in bloom, check out the famous collection of old-fashioned varieties at Mottisfont Abbey. Or continue on southwest to the New Forest and its “capital” town, Lyndhurst. The best introduction to this ancient hunting preserve is the New Forest Visitors Centre with a car park just off the main street. The small towns of Lyndhurst or Brockenhurst are the places to stay—with wild, New Forest ponies wandering through the villages at will. If time permits, do take another day to explore the forest.

This afternoon, however, you might take one of the beautiful ornamental drives, or pay a visit to Exbury Gardens, the National Motor Museum or the ship-building village of Bucklers Hard. Day 4 Yonder the Isle of Wight! It’s only eight miles south to Lymington this morning to catch the ferry across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. You’ll land in Yarmouth. Head first to The Needles and the Old Battery, where Marconi set up his first wireless telegraph station. Then carry on to Freshwater Bay and the A3055 coast road along the south edge of the island. There’s an aquarium along the way, a famed amusement park at Blackgang Chine and lovely botanic gardens at Ventnor. The east coast from Ventnor to Shanklin and Sandown is traditional holiday seaside, with lovely beaches and all the accoutrements—including plenteous accommodation choices for every budget. Shanklin Old Village, which grew up around Shanklin Chine (maybe the closest thing Britain has to a tropical rain forest), is a particularly quaint location. You’ll find other explorations along the way.

Day 5 An Island Panorama The IOW offers a wonderful day, with a real island feel to it. At roughly 20 miles by 13 miles, it’s not hard to get around. Head inland through the garlic fields to Newport, the island’s county town, for a visit to Carisbrooke Castle where the ill-fated King Charles I was held in captivity. Then, it’s north just a few miles to Cowes, the center of British yachting and scene of famous Cowes week, to wander about the colorful waterfront. The A-list visit in East Cowes is Osborne House, the private retreat of Queen Victoria and her family; it’s the most popular visit on the island and deserves to be. On a sunny day, of course, you might reserve some time for the beach or seaside attractions at Sandown or Shanklin. As always, of course, where there’s holiday resort, there are plenty of nightlife and dining options. Day 6 Wherever the Road Winds If you’re heading off island today, take the ferry from Fishbourne to Portsmouth in 45 minutes. That’s the Spinnaker Tower looming over the harbor.

As home of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth is awash in maritime history to be explored if time permits: the first iron-hulled warship, HMS Warrior, Nelson’s Victory, the Royal Navy Museum and much more. If you are back to London today, the most direct route is the A3, which leads northeast back to the M25 in an hour or so. If you’ve more time, turn east from Portsmouth and explore the Sussex coast to Chichester, Arundel and Brighton. [tabby title=”More Isle of Wight Articles”] [srp widget_title=”” widget_css_id=’testing-grid’ post_type=’post’ post_content_type=’content’ post_content_length=’50’ post_content_length_mode=’words’ post_title_length=’12’ post_title_length_mode=’words’ post_date=’no’ post_offset=’2′ category_include=’744′ string_break=’ More…’ layout_mode=’multi_column’ srp post_limit=’50’ display_thumbnail=’no’ vf_everything=’no’][tabbyending] Copyright 2014 British Heritage.

1000+ images about The Isle of Wight on Pinterest | Cowes isle of wight, England and Bembridge isle of wight Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas The Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight known to the ancient Romans as Vectis, is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 3 to 5 mi (5 to 8 km) off the coast of Hampshire, separated from mainland United Kingdom by a strait called the Solent. The island has several resorts which have been holiday destinations since Victorian times. 174 Pins229 Followers Visit The Isle Of Wight - The Needles Landmark Attraction × Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight, known to the ancient Romans as Vectis, is an English county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about three to five miles off the coast of Hampshire, separated from Great Britain (referred to by its residents as "the Mainland") by a strait called the Solent.

The Isle of Wight has the distinction of being England's smallest county during high tide, while Rutland is the smallest when the Isle of Wight is at low tide and the island has several resorts which have been holiday destinations since Victorian times. Home to the poets Swinburne and Tennyson and to Queen Victoria, who built her much-loved summer residence and final home Osborne House at East Cowes, the island has a maritime and industrial tradition such as boat building and sail making. Nowadays, the island hosts annual festivals such as the Isle of Wight International Jazz Festival, Bestival and the recently revived Isle of Wight Festival, which in 1970 was the largest rock music event ever held. Dinosaur Island The Isle of Wight is the undisputed dinosaur capital of Great Britain and features in the top 6 'best locations' in the world for dinosaur remains. Using the very latest augmented reality software, visitors to the island who download the brand new ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’ App can quite literally bring dinosaurs back to life when they visit the 6 meteorites which are dotted along the dinosaur trail which follows the coastline between Yaverland (near Sandown) and The Needles Park.

To celebrate the release of Walking with Dinosaurs: The 3D Movie, the Isle of Wight has partnered with 20th Century Fox and BBC Worldwide to bring you “Walking with Dinosaurs on the Isle of Wight”. The Walking with Dinosaurs Trail is based on the ancestral links between the characters in the (Walking with Dinosaurs) film (released in December 2013 by 20th Century Fox) and the dinosaurs on the Isle of Wight. The new App. gives visitors to the Island the chance to be seen standing alongside dinosaurs in the very place they were discovered. Victorian Heritage Queen Victoria (1846 - 1901) had a massive influence on the Isle of Wight during her time here and really helped to put the island ‘on the map’ as a holiday destination. She first visited the Isle of Wight as a princess in 1831, beginning a 70-year association with the Island. She and Prince Albert then moved to the Island in 1864 and the Prince set about re-designing and re-building Osborne House, their seaside palace.

Nowadays no trip to the island would be complete without a visit to Osborne House where Queen Victoria lived with her beloved Prince Albert and their nine children. Indeed, visitors to the Island can take an intimate glimpse into Queen Victoria’s family life by touring the nursery and private rooms of Victoria and Albert and admiring the stunning view from the terraces across the Solent – said to remind Prince Albert of the bay of Naples. Charles Dickens wrote much of David Copperfield whilst staying here and various other well-known Victorians holidayed here, perhaps due to the island now being seen as a rather fashionable place to visit, loved by none other than royalty! Historically the Island has also attracted many other famous visitors in search of inspiration, including Chales Darwin, Lewis Carroll, J.M.W. Turner and Alfred Lord Tennyson. Charles Darwin was possibly one of the most famous guests to the Island, staying at the Kings Head Hotel in Sandown during the summer of 1867 and it is believed that this is where he began his 'Origin of Species' assessment.

Isle Of Wight Accommodation If you’re looking to book a family holiday, plan a short break or attend one of the many festivals or seasonal events on the Isle of Wight, then The Needles should definitely feature on your itinerary! Likewise, when it comes to Isle of Wight accommodation, the island has a large and varied selection of places to stay to suit all tastes and budgets! Choose from the charms of traditional hotels by the seaside, some great quality bed & breakfast accommodation, or alternatively the great family facilities offered at a wide range of holiday parks and campsites. If you prefer flexibility, or are looking for something a bit different for your visit to the Isle of Wight, a self-catering break in a holiday cottage or apartment could be your best option. But whichever type of Isle of Wight accommodation you choose, many can be found in close proximity to our award-winning beaches and restaurants. For more detailed information on Isle of Wight accommodation, please visit the official accommodation section of the tourist board website – Visit Isle of Wight.

Fascinating (Isle of Wight) Facts | the pcgblog Fascinating (Isle of Wight) Facts Posted on by admin Some fascinating facts about the Isle of Wight that you probably didn’t realise that you wanted to know….. The island has more overseas visitors per year than it does residents – 2,467,909 visitors in 2010/11 with a population of only about 138,400. The Island has more sunshine hours than any other UK resort with on average 1800–2100 hours of sunshine per year, which is more than some areas of northern Spain. The Isle of Wight is said by some to be the most haunted Island in the world. The trains on the Ryde to Shanklin line are ex London Underground tube trains and were built around 1938 – making them older than some of the heritage steam engines on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. The Isle of Wight was called Vectis by the Romans who settled there.

Brading Roman Villa mosaic (Credit: The Isle of Wight is England’s smallest county when the tide is high – Rutland being the smallest when the tide is out on the Island. The world’s first radio station was set up by Marconi, at the Needles, on the western tip of the island in 1897. The Needles Battery (Credit: The Needles battery was also used as a site for the testing and development of Britain’s space rockets. Blackgang Chine, in the south of the Island, was establishment in 1843, making it the oldest amusement park in the UK and, some say, the World. (Credit: According to audits, the local newspaper, the County Press, is read by approximately 90% of the Island’s adult population. The tallest structure on Isle of Wight is Chillerton Down transmitting station, whose mast is 228.9-metre (751 ft) high. The Isle of Wight is home to the Isle of Wight music Festival. It attracted an audience of 700,000 in 1970 with Jimi Hendrix headlining at the site at East Afton Farm.

The world’s biggest gathering of vintage and modern scooters, The Isle of Wight International Scooter Rally, is held on the Island in August each year with between 4,000 and 7,000 participants. Adgestone Vineyard is one of the oldest vineyards in Britain. The hovercraft was invented and developed on the Isle of Wight by Sir Christopher Cockerell, who lived and worked in East Cowes. (Credit: Formed in 1967, and active in the early 1970s, The Vectis National Party was a political party which sought independent status for the Isle of Wight, on a similar basis to other islands such as the Isle of Man. The well known model village at Godshill incorporates a model village of itself. It is so detailed that within that second model there is a third, even smaller, model of the village. Flying Boats were developed and built by Saunders-Roe Limited at their Columbine Works, East Cowes. (Credit: The Isle of Wight is one of the richest dinosaur localities in Europe, with over 20 species of dinosaur having been found on the Island.

Dinosaur footprints are visible at Compton Bay, near Freshwater, at low tide. When the dinosaur fossils were laid down, between 125 and 110 million years ago, the island was at a latitude similar to that of North Africa today. Osborne House was built between 1845 and 1851 for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as a summer home and rural retreat and the Island became a major holiday resort for fashionable Victorians. Queen Victoria died at Osborne House in January 1901. Osborne House (Credit: PCGraphics have worked on 94 projects requiring customised maps of the Isle of Wight for various clients since we started back in 1998. That’s roughly one every two months or so. If you’ve landed on this page and wish to go to the first page of the blog, click here Isle of Wight - YouTube Isle of Wight Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.

Published on Aug 1, 2014 The Isle of Wight /ˈaɪl əv ˈwaɪt/, known to the ancient Romans as Vectis, is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 3 to 5 mi (5 to 8 km) off the coast of Hampshire, separated from mainland United Kingdom by a strait called the Solent. The island has several resorts which have been holiday destinations since Victorian times. The history of the Isle of Wight includes a brief period of time as an independent kingdom in the 15th century. Until 1995, like Jersey and Guernsey, the island had a Governor. This video is targeted to blind users. Attribution: Article text available under CC-BY-SA Creative Commons image source in video Category Weird & Wonderful Facts - Visit Isle Of Wight You are here > Inspiration > Weird & Wonderful The Hovercraft on Ryde sands Weird & Wonderful Facts Isle of Wight not Isle of White!

The correct spelling is 'Wight' rather than 'White', but why this word with its unique spelling was adopted after the Romans left in the 5th Century AD is not entirely agreed on by the experts. Wight is a Middle English word, from the Saxon wiht, and used to describe a creature or living being. It is similar to Old High German wiht, meaning a creature or thing. More recently, the word has been used within the fantasy genre of literature to describe the undead Barrow-wights from the works of Tolkien. Many of the Island’s towns and villages retain Anglo-Saxon names, for example Culver Cliff, named after 'culfre', the Saxon word for pigeon. Another is Boniface Down, named after Saint Boniface. During the occupation by the Roman Empire 50 to 400AD the Island was called 'Vectis' and the word Vectis is still much in use on the Isle of Wight today. But the name was dropped when the Romans left in the 5th Century AD. The only thing that can be said with any degree of certainty is that it has nothing to do with the colour of the cliff and the Island is not spelled Isle of White!

The Great Robert Hooke (1635-1703), the famous scientist, philosopher, inventor and astronomer was born in Freshwater on the Isle of Wight in the road that now bears his name, Hooke Hill. Hooke coined the term ‘cell’ to describe the basic unit of life. There is a trail around Freshwater in his memory and a permanent exhibition dedicated to his life’s work can be viewed at the Isle of Wight Planetarium at Fort Victoria. The Famous The Isle of Wight has had a number of famous residents over the years. Some island-born celebrities include Oscar-winning film director, Anthony Minghella, Mark King, lead singer/bassist in pop/funk band Level 42, Jeremy Irons, an actor born in Cowes, Bear Grylls, the adventurer, writer and television presenter, yacht designer, Uffa Fox, and actress Sheila Hancock. ‘Overner’ celebrities who have made the Island their home, or stayed for extended periods of time include Winston Churchill, Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, John Keats, Karl Marx, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Dame Ellen MacArthur, and of course Queen Victoria!

The Infamous Because of it's geography the Isle of Wight was once always considered a good location to imprison law breakers, and some of history’s highest profile criminals were once imprisoned on the Island at the former maximum-security HM Prison Parkhurst (now known as HMP Isle of Wight) including the Richardson Brothers and the Kray Twins. Possibly the Island's most famous prisoner was of course Charles I, who was held at Carisbrooke Castle from 1647-1648 prior to his execution in London. Inventions & Discoveries In 1956, Sir Christopher Cockerell secured funding to produce his invention – the hovercraft. The contract was given to Saunders Roe, the flying boat firm based in Cowes on the Island. Eight months later, Sir Christopher Cockerell found himself on board his 20ft invention crossing the English Channel to Calais. By the 1960’s a whole fleet of hovercrafts had been produced and could regularly be seen crossing the English Channel and The Solent. You can still catch a hovercraft to the Isle of Wight today where we operate the UK's only remaining passenger only service.

Back in 1969, 100 electric cars were produced on the Isle of Wight, which strongly resemble the models currently being mass produced by Renault, Nissan and BMW. The Enfield 8000 was an extremely popular design, especially with US president, (governor of California at the time) Ronald Reagan, who wanted to provide all the residents of Catalina Island with an Enfield, offering the makers a factory site in the US. The offer was declined, and production continued in Cowes on the Island until the company disbanded due to the pressures from oil companies. The Isle of Wight was recently been declared the Dinosaur capital of the UK! The land which forms the Island was once the perfect habitat for Dinosaurs, which had led to the local discovery of over 25 different species so far including the UK’s largest dinosaur the Sauropod! The remains of a little dinosaur Yaverlandia, found locally as it's name suggests, is the only specimen in the world and is displayed at the Geology Museum at Sandown.

In 2009, 5-year old Daisy Morris discovered the fossils of a previously undiscovered species on Atherfield Beach, which has since been named after her – the Vectidraco (Dragon of the Wight) Daisymorrisae! Food & Drink The Isle of Wight is famed for its garlic growing prowess! Each August, The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival is held in the rolling green hills just outside of Newchurch at the heart of the Island. Over two days guests are treated to cookery demos, tasty local produce, arts and crafts stalls to peruse, and a great line up of live music. The Garlic Farm Shop and Café is open all year round, offering a garlic-themed (obviously) menu, including garlic beer and even garlic ice cream! Some people claim that the Isle of Wight invented doughnuts, though the evidence against this claim is stronger than that which supports it. We certainly did create doughnuts, but the Dutch are responsible for the variety which became popular through the U.S., though which came first remains a mystery.

History & Heritage Osborne House in East Cowes was the home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and she once said of the area, “it is impossible to imagine a prettier spot”. The Queen lived here until her death in 1901 and on Coronation Day in 1902, the new king gave ownership of the house and estate to the nation. Carisbrooke Castle dates all the way back to 1100 and is one of the most famous sites on the Island. King Charles I was imprisoned in the castle between 1647-48 and you can still visit the room he tried to escape from – his plan was foiled when he got stuck between the bars on the window. The castle was the holiday residence of Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice up until 1944. Quarr Abbey was first built as a Cistercian monastery in 1132, and is still working today. It was named from the stone quarry from which the abbey was first built. The monks bred carp in their ponds, which they transported live to London to sell as a profitable source of income.

Quarr stone from the Isle of Wight was used to complete the upper section of the White Tower at the Tower of London around 900 years ago. Quarr stone was prized as a hard building material. PLUTO - Pipeline Under The Ocean. During World War II, pipeline was laid from the mainland, via Southampton, across the Solent to Thorness Bay and then across the Island to pumping stations at Sandown and Shanklin. At Shanklin, the pumphouses were concealed in the bomb-scarred buildings of the Esplanade near the cliff lift. The pipeline ran from there to France. The Sandown line ran from a pumping station in the vicinity of Browns Golf Course. In the event, fuel was not piped across the channel until after the D-Day invasion took place, the Shanklin line failed and very little fuel was piped from Sandown, but this should not detract from the enormity and ingenuity of the operation. An exhibition of PLUTO memorabilia can be seen at Shanklin Chine. Culture & Entertainment Throughout history many of the creatively inclined have taken up residence on the Island!

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, poet laureate from 1850, made his home at Farringford in Freshwater on the Isle of Wight, and was followed across the water by a host of celebrity royalty at the time, including pioneer photographer Julia Margaret Cameron and writers Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll. Sir Edward Elgar and his new wife, Alice, decided to make the Isle of Wight their honeymoon destination, staying at Alexandra Gardens in Ventnor. Sir Edward said of the area “…the flowers and wild things here are marvellous, so large and forward; and the gorse, which is in fullest bloom, so abundant and large. The hills, and there are many, and dales are one mass of brilliant yellow! The weather is gorgeous.” The Isle of Wight is also home to the extremely popular Isle of Wight Festival. In 1969, Bob Dylan attended and played to a crowd of 150,000, and a year later the festival attracted an estimated 600,000 people, with a line-up that included Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Joni Mitchell and The Who.

(The population of the Island was less than 100,000 at the time.) In more recent years the festival has hosted musical names such as The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, The Police and Sir Paul McCartney. Sport & Leisure The first Cowes Regatta was held in 1812 and subsequently attained international status. Enhanced by the presence of the Royal family, Cowes Week is now the world's biggest international yachting event. Over 8,500 competitors and 100,000 spectators flock to Cowes to soak up the festival atmosphere and enjoy the sunshine. The Island is also home to round-the-world yachtswoman, Dame Ellen MacArthur, and Olympic gold medallist, Shirley Robertson, with Sir Ben Ainslie making frequent visits to the Island’s sailing clubs. The 8 wonders of the Wight The Isle of Wight has its very own eight wonders (one more than the world!)… 1.Cowes you cannot milk

Question: As what was the Isle of Wight known to the Romans?
Answer: Vectis